Concrete grave-vault.



G. H. KILLIAN.

CONCRETE GRAVE VAULT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1s, 1911.

Patented Deo. 26, 1911.

rf t l l H//U /n A GEORGE H. KILLIAN, OF HICKSVILLE, OHIO.

CONCRETE GRAVE-VAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lApplication led April 18, 1911. Serial No. 621,939.

To all whom 'it may concer/nf.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. KILLIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hicksville, in the county of Defiance and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Grave- Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the subject of grave vaults and more particularly of the kind constructed of concrete or analogous composite material.

To this end the invention primarily has in view a concrete or cement grave vault of a permanent character, that is to say, one which is intended to be manufactured and placed in position before it is needed, while at the same time presenting a sightly and ornamental effect that contributes greatly to the general appearance of the cemetery.

Furthermore, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide a novel construction of concrete grave vault which entirely takes the place of the conventional grave that is dug in the open ground, while at the same time adapted for use as a temporary receiving vault for the body prior to the permanent burial thereof. In this connection the invention embodies means for thoroughly protecting a body from outside influences and from weather conditions pending burial, and also embodies means to effect permanent burial through a secure and strong sealing feature that in effect produces a monolithic box absolutely impervious to moisture and air, making a permanent tomb or sarcophag `With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

While the invention is susceptible to structural modifications a preferred and practical embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichillustrating the manner of inserting and removing the individual spring metal plates which constitute the inside metallic cover.

Like reference letters designate corresponding parts in the several igures of the drawings.

The improved grave vault includes in its general organization a body part, (designated in its entirety by the reference letter B), molded in rectangular' form from any suitable cement mixture, commonly known as concrete, and comprising a solid bottom 1, solid upstanding sidewalls 2 and solid upstanding end walls 3, the side and end walls being integral with eachother and with the bottom member 1, thus producing a substantial monolithic box havin therein an interior receiving-chamber 4 or the bodyl to be buried.

The one-piece molded concrete body part B of the improved vault may be made of any suitable thickness and dimensions to give the same the necessary solidity and capacity and in the preferable use of the invention, the structure is placed or built directly in the ground with the upper edge of the body part B flush with the surface of the ground. Also, a feature of practical importance in carrying out the invention, resides in constructing the solid bottom 1 of the body .of a tapering thickness toward one end and with a dished-top surface 5, thus providing for a drainage toward one bottom corner of the body. At this bottom corner, there is provided in the solid bottom a drain hole 6 `which permits of the egress of moisture dur- ;ing the drying out operation7 and also at the time the vault 4is put into use just prior to the permanent sealing thereof. That is to say, the drain hole 6 may be left unplugged until the final sealing is to take place, and then can be permanently closed by a cement or concrete filling plug 7 which is placed therein in a plastic condition, and then allowed to set or harden.

In a plane below the top edge thereof, the body part B of the vault is provided with yretaining grooves 8 and 9, formed respectively in the side and'end'walls, and these retaining grooves operate as retainers or locking means for an inside sectional metallic cover that is arranged within the upper open portion of the body below the horizontal plane of the top edge' thereof. This` inside sectional metallic cover consists of a Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

plurality of individual spring metal plates, p

which for convenience are designated respectively, 10, 11, and l2. These spring metal platesare of an arched form, and while three of such plates are illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that any desired number thereof may be employed in carrying out the invention. While the retainlng grooves 8 and 9 serve to securely hold the metal plates in position, at the same time the engagement of said plates in these grooves is sutliciently loose tol permit an overlapping of the adjoining ed es of the plates, and also to permit a s iding thereof one upon the other. This sliding operation is particularly necessary to render the vault available as a temporary receiving vault, and also to facilitate the sliding of the end metal plates 10 and 12 into the end grooves 9. In further explanation of the mounting of these plates 10, 11, and 12, it will be observed from Fig. 4 of the drawings, that the same are normally wider than the distance between t-he inner faces of the opposite side walls 2, so that in order to insert the plates in position it is necessary to compress the same by flexing the opppsite edges thereof toward each other, as slown by dottedv lines in Fig. 4. By this meansy the compressed plates may be inserted into the body and the edges thereof then allowed to spring out into the side retaining grooves 8. After the end plates 10 and 12 are thus inserted the same are slid outward into engagement with the end grooves 9.

., cover one edge When used as a temporary receiving vault, after the body is placed within the chamber 4, and the linside metallic cover fitted into posit-ion and closed with the -plates overlapping, as shown in Fig. 2, the

removed by first sliding the central spring plate 11 either one way `or the other to unof one of the end plates, so that the sai edge of the plate may be grasped with the hands to iex the same and pull it out, as is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. Then the central plate 11,`

and afterward the remaining plates are removed. Accordingly a reversalv of this operation is carried out when inserting the sectional cover in position.

As above noted the outside cover slab 13 is of amassive concrete formation and presents a surface upon which an inscription may be placed, if desired. Also, the said cover is preferably provided with lift rings or equivalent elements 14, and is intended to be permanently held and .sealed in place byvmeans of suitable fastenings, preferably consisting of reinforcing rods 15 embedded in the slab and a plurality of hooked or similar fastening ties 16 connected with each rod 15 and having one end projecting below the plane of the cover slab and bonded into and held by a plastic sealing closure 17., which consists of suitable concrete or cement material filled into, and allowed to becomec set, in the space between the sectional metallic cover and the outside cover slab 13.l It will be observed that the plastic filling 17 adheres to the various surfaces with whichv it contacts thus producing v a permanently closed and sealed tomb or sarcophagus, that is water and air tight.

Structural modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the invention so that it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction as fall within .the appended claim' may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln a grave vault, a concrete body inclosing a receiving chamber and having inner retaining grooves in the side and end walls thereof, an inside sectional metallic cover consisting of a plurality of overlapping spring metal plates slidably engaging the side retaining grooves, and the end plates of said cover also engaging the end grooves, an outside cover slab arranged ontop of the body, a'sealing closure filling the space be.

tween said two covers, and a fastening connection between sald sealing. closure and the outside cover slab.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE n. KILLIAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. D. SIMMONS, Grao. B. WmDERsoN. 

